Pressure-reserve method and mechanism for piano-players



J. W. DICKINSON. PRESSURE RESERVE METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PIANOPLA YERS.

v APPLICATION HLED JUNE I6. I918- 1,344,386. Patented June 22,1920

3 SHEETS-SHEET l- I E 1 If! R m \m N E xi E i IL-. i a f r k n mi 5 I 3 nvewto c J. W. DICKINSON.

PRESSURE RESERVE METHOD AND MECHANISM FOR PIANO PLAYERS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE I6, I9I6- June 22 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

J. W. DICKINSON.

ANO PLAYERS.

PRESSURE RESERVE M ETHOD AND MECHANISM FOR Pl APPLICATION FILED JUNE I6. 1916.

Paterited June 22,1920. I

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3- NM u R I 2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH W. DICKINSON, 0F GBANFORD, NEW'JERSEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J une 22, 1920.

Application filed June 16, 1916. Serial No. 103,948.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JosnrH WV. DICKIN- SON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cranford, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pressure- Reserve Methods and Mechanism for Piano- Players, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates to piano players, it particularly relating to means for controlling the force of the blow given to various notes, thereby to give a louder or softer tone as occasion requires, the object of the invention being to provide a mechanism particularly adapted for use with electrical or motor driven piano players, although of course it could be used with other forms of piano players if desired.

In an ordinary manually operated piano the harder the key is hit of course the harder the blow of the hammer upon the string, and consequently the louder the sound, and vice versa, the softer the piano key is struck the softer the sound or tone. In a player piano this loud or soft tone is obtained by the manner in which the instrument is pumped by the feet; for instance, if it is pumped hard a lou ler tone is, obtained than if softly pumped. here, however,the piano player is electrically operated, as by means of an electric motor, there is no way of varying the tone, for the reason that the instrument being mechanically driven the pressure is constant at a given speed of the motor, so that there is neither hand nor foot action for varying or modifying the tone, and therefore the object of the present improvement is to provide a mechanism well adapted for use with an electrically or motor driven piano player, and by means of which a harder or lighter blow, or in other words a modification of the tone, may be efficiently and readily obtained, and this in even a more reliable way than has heretofore been found. possible by the use of the hands in a manually operated piano or by the use of the feet in a piano player, it being the object of the invention to provide a mechanism which will hold in reserve two or more different pressures and any of which pressures may be independently released to effect the objects sought, and the releasing of which pressures may be done either automatically or by hand, as occasion may require.

n It is, therefore, an object of the present improvement to obtain different pressures independently of each other from one, and the same main bellows or suction-creating means and to hold such different pressures in reserve for instantaneous release either at the will of the operator or automatically through the medium ofanother instrumentality, as for instance through the cooperation of the music sheet and the tracker bar. One of the objects, therefore, of the present improvement is the provision of a motor driven main bellows supplying pressure, which at a given speed is constant at all times, in combination with means for re ceiving and holding that pressure in several different compartments so tensioned that there is a different pressure in each compartment, and which compartments are soconnected with the tracker bar or with a manually operated means that any one of these reserve pressures may be released at any time independently of any other, whereby a loud, soft or medium or any desired tone may be obtained, and this by independent pressures held in reserve, which pressures are always present in readiness to be released at any time, any one independently of another.

A further object of the invention is the provision of, means whereby these reserve pressures may be varied at the will of the operator.

The present improvement comprises in a general way a main bellows or suction-creating means shown herein as motor driven, as by means of an electric motor and therefore creating a constant pressure when the motor is running at a certain speed, and which bellows is designated in a general way by A, while the motor is designated in a general way by 'B, a pressure regulator 0 adapted to receive and hold in reserve different pressures from the main bellows, and means for releasing independently any one of such pressures, and which means in the present instance comprises a valve system D connected with the tracker bar and also with manually operated means for operating such valve. Y i

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, Figure l illustrates the present improvement applied to an electrically driven piano player, certain of the connecting tubes being illustrated in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of the pressureregulator, taken in line 2-2 of Fig. 4.; Fig. 3 is also a horizontal cross-sectional view taken in line 33 of Fig. l, of the pressure regulator; Fig. 1- is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pressure regulator, taken in line l l of Fig. 8; Fig. 5 is a vertical cross-scctional view taken in line 55 of Fig. 3; Fig. (3 is a diagrammatic view illustrating in part the pressure regulator, the valve box and a portion of the tracker bar and the connections between these parts, and also the connections leading to the manually controlled means for releasing any one oi the pressures; Fig. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pressure regulator, taken in line 77 of Fig. 3; Fig. 8 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the pressure regula tor, taken in line 88 of Fig. 3; Fig. 9 is a top view of the valve box; 10 is a cross sectional view taken in line 10-10 of Fig. 9; Fig. 11 illustrates a somewhat different form of pressure regulator, wherein the compartncnts are somewhat differently arranged; and Fig. 12 illustrates a different form of i'neans for manually controlling the release of the dilierent pressures instead of the push pins shown in Fig. 6.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures oi? the dra ings.

Piano players as usually constructed are pneumatically operated through the medium ofa main bellows which operates to create a acuum, or as it is frequently called a pressure, and this term will be used as a more convenient and understandable one throughout the description of the present in'iprovement. Only so much of a piano player as is necessary to illustrate the pres ent invention is shown in the drawings or described in this specification.

in a general way the piano or piano case 2 provided with the usual key-board 3 and tracker bar mechanisn'i, a portion of the case of which shown at 1 having a music roll 5 and a tracker bar 6, which traclrer bar is in the present instance provided with a series of openings or slots 7 at one end thereof for the purpose hcreinatter s )cciiied. Carried within the case of the piano is the main bellows A, shown in the present instance as connected by means of a belt 8 and driving pulley or wheel 9 with an electric motor B, whereby this bellows is driven at a constant speed when the motor is running at a predetermined speed, thereby to create a constant pressure in. the ii'istrun'ient. it 11 is located a suitable motor regulator in the form of a pneumatic, and which has nothing to do with the present improvement.

T he main bellows A is connected by suitable tubing 12 with one part, as the end, of the pressure regulator C, and from another part, as the opposite end, 01 which pressure regulator tubing 13 leads to the opposite ends of the piano case to the piano player action. In the connection or tubing 12 is located a. safety valve 1% to relieve the pressure in the event that the motor speeds up, and this safety valve also permits the regulation of the force of the blow of the high pressure regardless of the speed of the bcl lows or the speed of the motor.

Referring now to Fig. 6, the pressure regulator (l, which is preferably lo rated in any desired position within the piano case, but is shown located beneath the luiyboard, comprises a box into one end of which the pipe or conduit l from the main bellows leads and from the opposite end of which the pipe or conduit 13 leads to the piano player action. This pressure regulator C comprises a box divided in the manner shown in Figs. 2, 8, 1, 5, 7 and 8 and is for the purpose of receiving and holding in reserve the different pressures received from the main bellows, and of course will he divided into as many different pressure rcserve chambers to correspond with the nuinber of dill'erent pressures it is desired to rcceive and hold in re erve. In the present instance it is so til-(ltlGCl that it will hold a number of reserve pressures, and in the form illustrated it is shown having Il ()l.1' reserve chambers, one of which chambers may be considered as the high pressure or bellows pressure chamber, since it receives the bellows pressure directly from the bellows and holds it in reserve until released, the other three chambers, together with a li'lth chamber, being provided with pneumatics for regulating the pressure received :lrom the bellows. This lifth chamber, however, while it has its pressure regulated by a pneumatic, has no means for holding such pressure in reserve. In other words, the fifth chamber, which will he hereinafter rcfcrred to as the chamber It, may be con sidered to be the low or normal pressure chamber, while the chamber hereinafter rcterred to as the chamber 2' is the high pressure or bellows pressure chamber, which chamber 71 has means for releasing this pressure as occasion requires, while the low pressure or normal pressure chamber 7i has neans for regulating the pressure, but no means for reserving the pressure or releasing it at any time, it always passing from its chamber into the player action, in other words it is the pressure under which the player action operates.

This pressure rc 'ulator, in the preferred form shown, comprises a box having, in view of the way in which it is shown located in the piano case, what may be designated in the present instance as a rear chamber a into which the pipe 12 from the main bellows opens and a front compartment, which front compartment is divided into an upper chamber 2) and a series of lower chambers e, fig, h and '5, and from this upper chamher I) the pipe 13 leads to the piano player action. The lower chambers 2', e, f and g form in the present instance four pressure reserve chambers, the chamber *5, (see Figs. 3 and 8), constituting the high pressure or bellows pressure chamber hereinbefore referred to and being in communication at all times see Fig. 8) with therear chamber a, while the chamber h constitutesthe low pressure or normal pressure chamber, in which, however, no pressure is held in reserve. In short, when the player action is being oper ated through the medium of the chamber it its tones are soft, and this is the normal operation of the player; when operated through the medium of the chamber 71 its tones are very loud; and when operated through the medium of any of the other chambers e, f and g the tone is different from thatresulting from the use of chamhere it and 2'- and is between the two, the tone obtained from either of chambers e, 7' and g differing from that of any other. Passage from the rear chamber a, to any one of the four chambers c, f, g and la is by means of a pair of ports j and is, (see for instance Figs. 5 and 7), the port j being located in the bottom wall of the rear chamber a while the port is located in the bottom wall of each of the lower front chambers c, g and h. Communication between each of these lower front chambers e, f, g and h with the upper front chamber 6, and from thence through the pipe 13 to the player action, is by means of ports Z, while communication from the lower front chamber i to the upper chamber Z) is by a similar port Z. Each of the ports j of the chambers e, f, g and h is controlled by a valve 15 and a pneumatic 16, there being no valve or pneumatic for the chamber 2', for the reason, as hereinbefore stated, that it is always in direct communication with the chamber a, so that the pressure received from the main bellows is not in any way regulated, and by an inspection of Figs. 5 and 7 for instance it will be observed that the ports and is form passages from the pneumatic to the rear chamber a and the respective lower reserve chamber, which in these two figures are shown as g and h. Each'of these pneu matics is located under the bottom of the regulator in such manner as to be in communication with the rear chamber a and its respective lower front chamber, there being one pnrumatic for each of these four chambers e, f, g and h, and each port is controlled by its valve 15 connected with the pneumatic in such a way that when the pneumitic is compressed the port y will be closed or slightly closed, it being usually in a bleeding condition, and when the pneumatic is expanded the port will be more fully opened. These pneumatics are for the purpose of regulating the pressure of the main bellows and each is therefore under' a different tension from its companion pneumatics. This tension is obtained by means of coiled springs 17, each spring being connected with the underside of a pneumatic and adj ustably connected with an angle bar 18 so that by some suitable adjusting means, as for instance by a threaded nut 19, tension on these springs can be regulated. The springs act to maintain the pneumatics expanded, while the suction from the main bellows forming a vacuum in the rear chamher a acts to maintain the pneumatics compressed and the valves 15 properly seated against the ports j. Consequently it follows that the more tension there is on each spring the higher the pressure will be that is to be held in reserve. In the presentinstance the springs are so adjusted that they will be under different tensions so that there will be different pressures in the several reserve chambers, and it therefore follows that the same vacuum in the chamber a will, by reason of the different tensions given to the springs, hold the several pneumatics in different positions relatively to each other, it being of course understood that the vacuum created by the bellows is su'lliciently strong to counterbalance the particular spring which is under the greatest tension or that one which is the most poweriul to maintain its pneumatic expanded, so that the port is in a leaking or bleeding condition. The

several springs are thus adjusted for a certain predetermined pounds pressure, in other words so that it will require a certain number of pounds of vacuum to offset or counterbalance each spring. The stronger the power of the spring the higher the pres-. sure that is obtained, and obviously without the presence of the springs the vacuum would cause the pneumaties to immediately collapse and close the ports 7' entirely. As an example, the spring under one reserve chamber will be adjusted say to require nine pounds to counterbalance it, while the springs under another will be adjusted to require say seven pounds to counterbalance it, the pressure from the main bellows of course being sufiicient to counterbalance the strongest spring and in consequence those .pneumatics having the least resistance will be counterbalanced more quickly than that. one having the strongest resistance. in consequence there will be obtained through the combined action of the main bellows and the several pneumatics different pressures in each of the reserve chambers, which pressures are always retained inthe chambers z', e, f and g in readiness to be released any one of them independently of all the rest by reason of'the fact that the ports Z which llU lead from each of the reserve chambers i, c, j and 9 into the upper chamber 6 are controlled by valves 20, (there being no valve controlling the port Z from the chamber h) in the form of diaphragm valves, and these ports are maintained closed by the atmospheric pressure which is present under the (liapln'agms of these valves by reason of the tube 22 opening to the atmosphere in the valve box 23, Fig. 10. In the present instance the spring of that pneumatic which is under the chamber 6 has the greatest tension, that of the other chambers and 9 being regulated to hold in reserve lower pressures. YVhen the pressure in bellows pressure cham ber is released in the manner hereinafter described, the loudest tone will be obtained. Suitable means, shown as a pneumatically operated means, is provided for releasing the several pressures in the reserve chambers. Communicating with a chamber 21 (see Figs. and 8) under each of these dia phragm valves 20 is a pipe or tube 22, these pipes leading to a valve box 23 (see Fig. 6) having as many valves therein as there are pipes, which latter of course correspond to the number of the pressure reserve chambers, and therefore four valves 24: are shown. Each of these four valves is in the form of a diaphragm valve (see Fig. the valve disk 25 of which is adapted to rest upon its lower seat 26 so that the pipe 22 will open to the atmosphere above the valve 25 and in consequence atmospheric air is effective to maintain each diaphragm valve in position on, the seat of the port Z. Commzmieating with a chamber 28 below each dia phragm valve 24: is a similar tube 29 leading either to the tracker bar or to manually controlled means for putting the valves in operation. In the present instance these tubes 29 lead both to the tracker bar and to the n'ianually controlled means.

From the foregoing it will be observed that the communicating conduits or tubes 'or pipes which lead from the underside of the diaphragm valves 20 communicate with the valve box at its upper side, while the similarly formed conduits or tubes 29 lead from the lower side of the valve box 23 to the tracker bar and to the manually controlled means. In the present instance these tubes 29 are in communication with the tracker bar, which is usually of a hollow formation, and open adjacent to specially formed apertures or slots 7 in the tracker bar located at one end thereof and in position to register with specially formed opeir ings in the music sheet, so that when any one of the openings in the music sheet registers with any one of the openings 7 of the tracker bar atmospheric air will of course pass into the particular tube 29 which has its slot 7 in register with the slot of the music sheet and thus pass into the chamber 28, raise the diaphragm thereof and raise the valve disk from its seat 26 to its upper seat 26 and close off the atmospheric air and establish communication between the valve box chamber 31 (see Fig. 10) and a tube 22, whereupon the chamber 21 under a valve 20 is exhausted so that the diaphragm of the valve 20 falls by the weight of the valve and opens the port Z between the chamber Z) and that particular pressure reserve chamber being operated, whereupon. the pressure in the reserve chamber is effective through the conduit or pipe 13 to the player action. In this manner the several pressure reserve chambers are automatically controlled so that the desired pressure is released as the particular note or series of notes to be accented passes over the tracker bar, it being understood of course that the specially formed slots or openings in the music sheet to register with the openings 7 in the tracker bar are so located that they will be in position on the music sheet at the point where the note or series of notes in that music sheet are to be accented. In other words, at one time the right-hand slot 7 of Fig. 6 will register with one of these specially formed slots in the music sheet, at another time the left-hand slot will register with another specially formed slot in the music sheet, and so 011.

In communication with each of the tubes 25) is a series of four tubes 35, also in communication with suitable manually con trolled means whereby the valves in the valve box 23 may be operated manually. In the form shown in Fig. 6 each of these manually controlled means consists of a push button or device 36 carried by a box 37, which may be located in a suitable place in front of the keys, as shown in Fig. 1. Each of these boxes is closed at its underside by a leaf spring 38 to the atmospheric air and is depressed on pushing down a push pin 36, and into each of these boxes one of the tubes leads. In the form shown in Fig. 12, instead of the push button means shown in Fig. 6 a slide valve arrangement is shown, whereby on the adjustment of levers 40 the slide valves 39 are manipulated to open some one of the four ports while maintaining the others closed, and with which ports the ends of the tubes 35 communicate.

Referring to Fig. 6, the righthand tube 22 in communication with the high pressure or bellows pressure chamber 2', the left-hand tube 22 is in communication with the pressure reserve chamber g, the two intermediate tubes 22 being respectively in communication with the pressure reserve chambers c and f, there being, as hereinbefore stated, no means for releasing the pressure from the chamber 71, for the reason that while the pneumatic thereunder regulates the pressure therein from the main bellows this pressure is normally effective on the player action,in other words it is always in condition to exert its effect through the ports is and Z, which are unprovided with valves, upon the'player action. in short, the chamber h is provided with a pneumatic for regulating the pressure received from the main bellows, but is unprovided with any means for retaining this pressure to release it at any particular time, while the chamber 11 is unprovided with any means such as a pneumatic for regulating the pressure from the bellows, but is provided with means for releasing the bellows pressure as may be desired, and therefore in this respect corresponds to the chambers c, and g, which are provided with similar means for releasing the pressure reserve therein, and which chambers e, f and g are also provided with pneumatics for regulating the pressures therein received from the main'bellows.

In operation, when the left-hand slot 7 in the tracker bar registers with a specially formed opening in the music sheet, or when the left-hand push button shown in Fig. 6 is operated to depress the leaf spring in the manner shown in dotted lines in this figure, atmospheric air is admitted through a pipe and 29 to the underside of the diaphragm valve 2 L, raising this valve and permitting an exhaust from a tube 22 in communication with the underside of the diaphragm valve 20,-thereby permitting the valve 20 to fall away from the port Z of chamber 9 and thereby permitting the pressure reserve in the chamber 9 to be effective through the pipe 13 on the player action to give a louder tone than is normally present. In a similar way the other chambers f, e and z' are operated.

From the foregoing it will be seen that by means of the present improvement various and independent pressures may be held in reserve and released at will or automatically, all of which pressures are lower than the bellows pressure, and that these several pressures are obtained from one and the same bellows, so that although the bellows is maintaining a certain or constant pressure, according to the speed of the motor, there are nevertheless obtained different pressures from this same source, so that the operator may modify or modulate the tone of the piano manually by operating the manually controlled means shown in Figs. 6 and 12, or automatically according to the position of the slots in the music sheet. From this it will be observed that the pressure in any one of the chambers e, f, g and/i is held in reserve in these respective chambers until it is released either manually or automatically. in the manner hereinbefore described, and that the'pressure in the chambers e, f and g is lower than the pressure in chamber 2', or the bellows pressure, although all of the pressures are obtained from the same bellows or source, and that any number of different pressures may be obtained by duplicating the org nization shown, so that the invention consists broadly in the method of holding in reserve two or more pressures obtained from the same source for instant release, and therefore the various details may be more orless modified without departing from the spirit or scope of this improvement and various arrangements of the pressure, regulator box may be made.- For instance, the form shown in Fig. 11 may be used in some instances instead of that shown in the other figures, the gist of the present improvement consisting in the holding in reserve of a plurality of different pressures obtained from the same source, in combination with means for releasing any one of such different pressures independently of any other, either automatically or manually, on any note or notes of the piano, thereby to vary the tone thereo.

In Fig. 11 is shown a pressure regulator corresponding 'to the pressure regulator shown in the other figures of the drawing, except that the compartment Z), of Fig. 8 for instance, is divided longitudinally to form two compartments Z) and Z) and the port Z and its valve 20 duplicated, as 20 and Z. A. tube 22 communicates with the chamher 21 belowthe diaphragm of this valve 20 in the same manner that the tube 22 communicates with the chamber below the valve 20. The chamber 6 will have an outlet similar to the outlet 13 of Fig. 8, but this outlet will lead to the treble end of the action, the outlet 13 leading to the base end of the action, while the outlet from chamber 7) corresponding with outlet 13 would lead to the base end of the action. In other words, this device is intended to be used with a divided player action, whereby different pressures can be kept in the base and treble ends of the action simultaneously. Of course it will be understood that the tube connections and valves shown in Fig. 6

i would simply be duplicated.

I claim as my invention:

1. The method of obtaining diiferent pressures for use in a piano player action, which consists in producing a normally constant main source of pressure and then producing from such main source of pressure a plurality of different pressures and holding said different pressures in reserve, and then releasing any of said reserve pressures as occasion requires independently of any other whereby only a single pressure is operative at any time.

2. The method of obtaining different pressures for use in a piano player action, which consists in producing a normallyv constant main source of pressure and then producing from such main source of pressure a plurality of difftrent pressures and holding said different pressures in reserve, and then pneumatically releasing any of said reserve pressures as occasion requires independent of any other whereby only a single pressure is operative at any time.

The method of obtaining different pressures for use in a piano player action which consists in producing from a main source of pressure a plurality of different pressures and holding said pressures in reserve and then releasing any of said reserve pressures automatically or manually as occasion requires independently of any other.

4-. The method of obtaining different pressures for use in a piano player action which consists in producing from a main source of pressure a plurality of difl'erent pressures and holding said pressures in reserve and then releasing any of said reserve pressures automatically as occasion requires independently of any other.

5. The method of obtaining different pressures for use in a piano player action, which consists in producing a normally constant main source of pressure, then dividing and regulating said main pressure into a plurality of different pressures and holding said different pressures in reserve, and then automatically or manually and pneumatically releasin any of said reserve pressures as occasion requires independently of any other whereby only a single pressure is operative at any time.

6. The method of obtaining difl'erent pressures for use in a piano player action, which consists in mecl anically and pneumatically producing a certain pressure, then pneumatically dividing up and regulating said pressure into a plurality of dillerent reserve pressures, and then automatically or manually releasing any one of said reserve pressures as occasion requires independently of any other.

7. In a piano player having a normally constant pressure and operated only by a single pressure at any time, the combination of pneumatically operated mechanism for storing and holding in reserve a plurality of different pressures, and means for releasing any of said pressures independently of another on any note or notes of the piano, thereby to vary the tone thereof.

8. In a motordriven piano player having a normally constant pressure, the combination of mechanism for storing and holding in reserve a plurality of different pressures, and means for releasing any of said pressures independently of another on any note or notes of the piano, thereby to vary the tone thereof.

9. In a motor-driven piano player, the combination with a player action, of a motor-driven bellows therefor, a plurality of pneumatically operated pressure regulators connected with the bellows for re ceiving and storing a plurality of different reserve pressures, and means for releasing any of said pressures independently of another.

10. In a motor-driven piano player, the combination with a player action, of a motor-driven bellows therefor, a plurality of pneumatically operated pressure regulators connected with the bellows for re ceiving and storing a plurality of different reserve pressures, and means for releasing any of said pressures independently of another and comprising a plurality of valves.

11. In a motor-driven piano player, the combination with a player action having a tracker bar provided with a plurality of special openings therein, of a motor-driven bellows therefor, a plurality of pressure regulators connected with the bellows f'or receiving and storing a plurality of different reserve pressures, and means connected with the tracker bar and corresponding with the number of such openings therein for releasing any of said pressures independently of any other.

12. In a motor-driven piano player, the combination with a player action having a tracker bar provided with a plurality of special openings therein, of a motor-driven bellows therefor, a plurality of pneumatically operated. pressure regulators con nected with the bellows for receiving and storing a plurality of different reserve pressures, and means connected with the tracker bar and corresponding with the number of said openings therein for releasing any of said pressures independently of any other.

13. In a motor-driven piano player, the combination with a player action having a tracker bar provided with a plurality of special openings therein, of a motor-driven bellows therefor, a plurality of pneumatically operated pressure regulators connected with the bellows for receiving and storing a plurality of different reserve pressures, and means connected with the tracker bar and corresponding with the number of said openings therein for releasing any of said pressures independently Oli any other and comprising a plurality of valves.

14-. In a motor-driven piano player, the combination ivith a player action having a tracker bar provided with a plurality of special openings therein, of a motor-driven bel lows therefor, a plurality of pneinnatically operated pressure regulators connected with the bellows for receiving and storing a plurality of different reserve pressures, means connected with the tracker bar and corre sponding with the number of said openings therein for releasing any of said pressures independently of any other and comprising a plurality of valves, and means also connected with the valr'es for manually releasing said pressures one independently of an other.

15. In a motor-driven piano player, the combination with a player action having a tracker bar provided with a plurality of special openings therein, of a motor-driven bellows therefor, a plurality of pneumatically operated pressure regulators connected with the bellows for receiving and storing a plurality of different reserve pressures, means connected with the'tracker bar and corresponding with the number of said openings therein Ior releasing any of said pressures independent of any other, and means for man ually releasing said pressures one independently of another.

16. In a piano player, the combination of means for producing a main pressure, pneumatically operated means for dividing and holding a part thereof into a plurality of independent and different reserve pressures, and means or releasing any of said reserve pressures independently of any other whereby only a single pressure is operative at any time.

17. In a piano player, the combination of means for producing a main pressure, pneumatically operated means for dividing and holding a part thereof into a plurality of independent and different reserve pressures, and pneumatically operated means for releasing any of said reserve pressures independently of any other whereby only a single pressure is operative at any time.

18. In a piano player, the combination of means for producing a main pressure, means for dividing and holding a part thereof into a plurality of independent and different reserve pressures, and automatically and manually pneumatically controlled means for releasing any of said reserve pressures in dependently or" any other. g

19. In a piano player, the combination of electrically driven means for producing a main pressure, pneumatically operated means for regulating said pressure and dividing it into a plurality of different reserve pressures, and pneumaticallyoperated means for releasing any of said reserve pressures independently of any other.

20. In a piano player, the combination of a motor-driven means for producing a main pressure, pneumatically operated means for regulating said pressure and. holding a part thereof as a reserve pressure, and means for releasing said reserve pressure. p v

21. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a bellows for producing a main pressure, means for-operating it, pressure regulating means connected with said bellows and with the player action, one or more pneumatically controlled chambers for receiving and holding a part of the main pressure in reserve, means for releasing said reserve pressure or pressures and including pneumatically operated means comprising a valve controlled mechanism for each reserve chamber, and means connecting each valve mechanism with a special opening in the tracker bar. V

22. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a bellows for produring a main pressure, means for operating it, pressure regulating means connected with said bellows and with the player action, one or more pneumatically controlled chambers for receiving and holding a part of the main pressure in reserve, means for releasing said reserve pressure or pressures and including pneumatically operated means comprising a valve controlled mechanism for each reserve chamber, means connecting each valve mechanism with a special opening in the tracker bar, and manually operated means for also controlling each valve mechanism.

23. In a piano player having a player action, the combination oi a bellows for producing a main pressure, means for operating it, pressure regulating means connected with said bellows and with the player action, one or more pneumatically controlled chambers for receiving and holding a part oi"? the main pressure in reserve, means for releasing said reserve pressure or pressures and including pneumatically operated means comprising a valve controlled mechanism for each reserve chamber, means connecting each valve mechanism with a special opening in the tracker bar, manually operated means for also controlling each valve mechanism, each such manually controlled means consisting of a port, and means for opening it to the atmosphere.

24. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a bellows for producing a main pressure, a motor for driving it, pressure regulating means comprising a plurality of pneumatically controlled chambers, pneumatically operated means for controlling each of said chambers, and means for controlling each of said pneumatically operated means.

25. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a bellows for producing a main pressure, a motor for driving it, pressure regulating means comprising a plurality of pneumatically controlled chambers, pneumatically operated means for controlling each of said chambers, and means for controlling each of said pneumatically operated means, each of said pneumatically operated means comprising a diaphragm valve.

26. In apiano player having a player action, the combination of a bellows for producing a main pressure, a motor for driving said bellows, a pressure regulating box in communication with said bellows and in communication with. the player action, a plurality of chambers in said box, a plurality or spring controlled pneumatics co operating with said chambers, valves for controlling the passage of the pressures from said chambers, and. means for controlling the operation of said valves.

27. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a bellows for producing main pressure, a motor for driving said bellows, a pressure regulating box in communication with said bellows and in communication with the player action, a plurality of chambers in said box, a plurality of spring controlled pneumatics cooperating with said chambers, valves for controlling the passage of the pressures from said chambers, valves for controlling the operation of said first valves, and means "for controlling the operation of said valves.

28. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a bellows for pro ducing a main pressure, a motor for driving said bellows, a pressure regulating box in communication with said bellows and in communication with the player action, a plurality of chambers in said box, a plurality of spring controlled. pneumatics coopen ating with said chambers, valves for controlling the passage or the pressures from said chambers, valves for controlling the operation of said first valves, and means for controlling the operation oi said valves, said last means comprising pneumatlcally operated means.

29. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a bellows for producing a main pressure, a motor for driving said bellows, a pressure regulating box in communication with said bellows and in communication with the player action, a plurality of chambers in said box, a plurality of spring controlled pneumatics cooperating with said chambers, valves for controlling the passage of the pressures from said chambers valves for controlling the operation of said first valves, and means in com munication with special means in the tracker of the piano player action "for controlling the action o'li said last valves.

30. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a bellows for producing a main pressure, a motor for driving said bellows, a pressure regulating box 1n communication with said. bellows and in communication with the player action, a plurality of chambers in said box, a plurality of spring controlled. pneumatics cooperating with said chambers, valves for controlling the passage of the pressures from said chambers, valves for controlling the operation of said first valves, means in communication with special means in the tracker of the piano player action for controlling the action of said last valves, and manually operated means for also controlling the action of said last valves.

31. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a bellows for pro ducing a main pressure, a motor for driving said bellows, a pressure regulating box in communication with said bellows and in communication with the player action, a plurality of chambers in said box, a plurality of spring controlled pneumatics cooperating with said chambers, valves for controlling the passage of the pressures from said chambers, valves for controlling the operation of said first valves, means in communication with special means in the tracker of the piano player action for controlling the action of said last valves, and manually operated means for also controlling the action of said last valves, said manually operated means comprising a plurality of push buttons.

32. In a piano player, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and a plurality of pressure reserve chambers, pneumati. ally operated means for regulating the pressure in certain of said chambers, means for placing each of said pneumatically operated means under a different tension, and pneumatically operated means for releasing the pressure in certain of said chambers.

83. In a piano player, the combination of a main bellows, electrically driven means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box having a low pressure chamber, a bel lows pressure chamber and a plurality of pressure reserve chambers, pneumatically operated means for regulating the pressure in certain of said. chambers, mean for placing each of said pneumatically operated means under a different tension, and pneumatically operated means for releasing the pressure in certain of said chambers. V

34. In a piano player, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same. a pressure regulating box having a low pres sure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and a pressure reserve chamber, pneumatically operated means for regulating the pressure in certain of said cham bers, meansfor placing each of said pncumatically operated means under a different tension, valves for releasing the pressure in certain of said chambers, and means connecting the valves with special openings in the tracker bar of the player action. 7

i 35. In a piano player, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and a pressure reserve chamber, pneumatically operated means for regulating the pressure in certain of said chambers, means for placing each of said pneumatically operated means under a different tension,

valvesfor releasing the pressure in certain of said chambers, means connecting the valves withspecial openings in the tracker bar of the player action, and manually 0perated means also in communication with said valves.

36. In a piano player, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating ,box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and a pressure reserve chamber, pneumatically operated means for regulating the pressure in certain of said chambers, means for placing each of said pneumatically operated means under a different tension, valves for releasing the pressure in certain of said chambers, means connecting the valves with special openings in the tracker bar of the player action, and manually operated means also in communication with said valves for admitting atmospheric air to operate said valves.

37. In a piano player,.the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and one or more pressure reserve chambers, spring tensioned pneumatics cooperating with the low pressure chamber and each of the pressure reserve chambers, valve-controlled ports for each of the pressure reserve chambers and the bellows pressure chamber, avalve box, valves therein in communicati'on with the valves of the pressure regulating box, and means for controlling the valves of the valve box.

38. In a piano player, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and one or more pressure reserve chambers, spring tensioned pneumatics cooperating with the low pressure chamber and each of the pressure reserve chambers, valve-controlled ports for each of the pressure reserve chambers and the bellows pressure chamber, a valve box, valves therein in communication with the valves oi the pressure regulating box, and a tracker bar for said piano player action provided with openings corresponding in number with the valves of the valve box and in communication with said last valves.

39. In a piano player, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulatingibox having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and one or more pressure reserve chambers, spring tensioned pneumatics cooperating with the low pressure chamber and each of the pressure reserve chambers, valve-eontrolled ports for each of the pressure reserve chambers and the bellows pressure chamber,

a valve box, valves therein in communication with the valves of the pressure regupheric air to the valves of the valve lating box, and means for admittin atmosiox.

40. In a piano player, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and one or more pressure reserve chambers, spring tensioned pneumatics cooperating with the low pressure chamber and each of the pressure reserve chambers, valve-coir,

trolled ports for each of the pressure reserve chambers and the bellows pressure chamber, a valve box, valves therein in communication with the valves of the pressure regulating box, means'for admitting atmospheric air to the valves of the valve box and comprising a plurality of ports corresponding in number with the valves of saidbox, and means for opening any of the ports. l

41. In a piano player, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and one or more pressurereserve chambers, spring tensioned pneumatics cooperating with thelow pressure chamber and each of the pressure reserve chambers, valve-controlled ports for each of the pressure reserve chambers and the bellows pressure chamber, a valve box, valves therein in communication with the valves of the pressure regulating box, means for admitting atmospheric air to the valves of the valve box and comprising a plurality of ports corresponding innumber with the valves of said box, means for opening any of the ports, a tracker bar for said player action and provided with a plurality of openings corresponding with the number of the valves in the valve box, and means connecting said openings with the valves in the valve box.

42. In a piano player, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box havinga low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and one or more pressure reserve chambers, s )ring tensioned pneumatics cooperating with the low pressure chamber and each of the pressure reserve chambers, means for placing each of said pneum ati cs under a different tension, valve-controlled ports for each of the pressure reserve chambers and the bellows pressure chamber, a valve box, valves therein in communication with the valves of the pressure regulating box, means for admitting atmospheric air to the valves of the valve box and comprising a plurality of ports corresponding in number with the valves ofsaid box, means for opening any of the ports, a tracker bar for said player action and provided with a plurality of openings corresponding with the number of the valves in the valve box, and means con necting said openings with the valves in the valve box.

43. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box having communication at one point with said bellows and at another point with the player action, said box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and a plurality of intermediate pressure reserve chambers, spring tensioned pneumatics cooperating with the low pressure chamber and each of the pressure reserve chambers, means for adjusting the tension of said springs whereby the pneumatics may be placed under different tensions, valve controlled ports for each of the pressure reserve chambers and the bellows pressure chamber, a valve box, valves therein in communication with the valves of the pressure regulating box, said player action having a tracker bar provided with a plurality of openings, and means communicating with said openings and the valves in the valve box.

l In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box having communication at one point with said bellows and at another point with the player action, said box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber anda plurality of intermediate pressure reserve chambers, spring tensioned pneumatics cooperating with the low pressure chamber and each of the pressure reserve chambers, means for adjusting the tension of said springs whereby the pneumatics may be placed under different tensions, valve controlled ports for each of the pressure reserve chambers and the bellows pressure chamber, a valve box, valves therein in communication with the valves of the pressure regulating box, means for admitting atmospheric air to the valves of the valve box and comprising a plurality of ports corresponding in number with the valves of said box, and means for opening any of said ports.

41:5. In a piano player having a player action, the combination of a main bellows, means for driving the same, a pressure regulating box having communication at one point with. said bellows and at another point with the player action, said box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and a plurality of intermediate pressure reserve chambers, spring tensioned pneumatics cooperating with the lowpressure chamber and each of thepressure reserve chambers, means for adjusting the tension of said springs whereby the pneumatics may be placed under different tensions, valve-controlled ports for each of the pressure reserve chambers and the bellows pressure chamber, a valve box, valves therein in communication with the valves of the pressure regulating box, said player action having a tracker bar provided With a plurality of openings, means communicating with said openings and the valves in the valve box, means for admitting atmospheric air to the valves 01" the valve box and comprising a plurality of ports corresponding in number with the valves of said box, and means for opening any of said ports.

46. A pressure regulating box having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure cham ber and a plurality of pressure reserve chambers, pneumatically operated means for regulating the pressure in certain oi said chambers, means for placing each of said pneumatically operated means under a different tension, and means for releasing the pressure in certain of said chambers.

&7. A pressure regulator comprising a bellows pressure chamber, a low pressure chamber and a plurality of pressure reserve chambers, spring tensioned pneumatics cooperating with the low pressure chamber and each of the pressure reserve chambers,-

and valve controlled ports for each of the pressure reserve chambers and the bellows pressure chamber.

e8. In a piano player action, a pressure regulator having a low pressure chamber, a bellows pressure chamber and a plurality of pressure reserve chambers, sprii'ig tensioned pneumatics cooperating with the.

low pressure chamber and each of the pressure reserve chambers, a pair of chambers in communication with the bellows pressure and each of the pressure reserve chambers, and duplicate valve controlled ports for said pair of chambers whereby the pressure regulator is adapted for use with a divided piano player action.

Signed at 1822 Park Row Building, New York, N. Y., this 14th day of June, 1916.

J OSElH WV. DICKINSON. 

